Needle bed for needles serving for the manufacture of knitted fabrics



June 5, 1956 LUCHSlNGER 2,748,581

NEEDLE BED FOR NEEDLES SERVING FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF KNITTED FABRICSFiled Jan. 27, 1954 IN V5 N TOR 27/265 A z/cfzsf/ggefl NEEDLE BED FORNEEDLES SERVING FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF KNITTED FABRICS Ernst Luchsinger,Kusnacht, Zurich, Switzerland, assignor to Fibra A. G., Glarus,Switzerland Application January 27, 1954, Serial No. 406,465

Claims priority, application Switzerland August 20, 1953 6 Claims. (Cl.66-115) The present invention relates to a novel and improved needle bedfor needles adapted for the manufacture of knitted fabrics.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a needle bed whichpermits a relatively easy and economic construction and further toreplace in a simple manner parts, which are subjected to heavy wear.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description. The invention is further pointed out in theclaims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view partly in section of the needle bedaccording to a first embodiment;

Figure 2 is a sectioned elevation along the needle channel according toFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of needle channel serving to guide theneedle;

Figure 4 is a filling strip;

Figure 5 is a modified form of attachment for the needle channel insectional elevation;

Figure 6 is a perspective view partly in section of a modified form ofthe needle bed;

Figure 7 is a perspective sectional view along a needle channelaccording to Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a front view after Figure 7 partly in section;

Figure 9 is a ground view of the connecting bar common to bothembodiments.

In the embodiment according to Figure l the numeral 1 designates thebase plate on which three flat holding rails 2, 3 and 4 extendingparallel to each other are mounted. Each of the holding rails 2-4 has anupstanding marginal row of teeth 5 formed by punching. Across theholding rails 24, profiled rails 6 of channel cross-section and havingwalls of uniform thickness are arranged, each of these channels servingto guide one slidable needle 7, having a tongue 8 and a foot 9, whichlatter is provided for engagement with a cam-box (not shown) in a knownmanner. The channels 6, which consist of sheet metal formed to thedescribed profile and can be hardened without great danger of warping,are according to Figures 1 and 3 formed somewhat larger in their forwardend part 6a lying in the working zone of the needle 7 and serving asknocking-over comb, than in their remaining part of the channel 6. Overthe length of this remaining part a filling strip is inserted betweeneach two adjacent channels 6, thereby improving the stability of theneedle bed. Between each two adjacent upstanding teeth of the threeholding rails 2 4 a needle channel 6 is inserted so that the teeth 5serve to position the channels. The filling strips 10 are inserted intosaid teeth with their three lower recesses 10a. At the open upper sideof the needle channels 6 two recessed portions 11 and 12 are provided oneach of its two shanks. Similar recessed portions 13 and 14 are arrangedat the upper rims of the filling strips 10. Into the said recessedportions 11 and 12 of the needle channels 6, and 13 and 14 of fillingstrips 10, upper rails 15 and 16 are inserted nited States Patent 0 andhaving enlarged end portions.

Patented June 5, 1956 which extend parallel to the holding rails 2-4 andpress the needle channels 6 and the filling strips 10 down on theholding rails, while acting as stops for the said parts. Both of theupper rails 15 and 16, which at the same time may serve to guide thecam-box are connected to the plate 1 by means of sheet metal clamps 17spaced apart on the lower shank of each upper rail. The two downwardspointing shanks of each clamp 17 which are arranged each between twoadjacent needle channels extend through slots in the holding rails 2and'4 and tensioning bars 18 arranged below the base plate 1. Bothshanks of the clamp 17 coact with the tensioning bar 18, which holds aclamping screw 19 acting on the base plate 1 as will be described inconnection with Figure 8 in a more detailed manner.

If sufficient space is available between adjacent needle channels, it ispossible to connect the upper rails 15 and 16 by means of screws 20 withthe base plate 1.

The pitch of the toothing 5 at the holding rails 2-4 is chosen accordingto the desired distance between the needle channels, when manufacturingthe needle bed as will be readily understood.

The second embodiment is insofar different from the described one thatthe front end part of the needle channels lying in the working zone ofthe sliding needles 7 is constituted by a non-metallic end piece 21,which preferably consists of synthetic material, e. g. plastic. This endpiece, which has channels 21a serving to guide the needles 7 abutsagainst the needle channels 6 and is seated in a lower part 1a of thebase plate 1. At its underside the end piece 21 has longitudinal andtransverse ribs and besides is provided with a number of eyes 22 eachhaving a cast-in screw bolt 23, which serves to rigidly connect the endpiece 21 with the part 1a of the base plate 1. For the connection of theneedle channels 6 with the base plate 1, clamps 17 are provided asdescribed in the first embodiment. In Figure 8 can be seen that bothshanks of a clamp 17 extend between two adjacent needle channels 6, thelower end of both shanks being received in slits 18a arranged in thetensioning bar These serve to facilitate the engagement anddisengagement between clamp 17 and bar 18 as will be readilyappreciated.

In order to prevent the knitted fabric from being exposed to sharpedges, the edges of the needle channels at the free end of the end piece21 are taken off or rounded. This can be done more easily with thematerial provided for the end piece 21 than with sheet metal and has theadvantage that the yarn can not get caught at the piece 21, that nothreads are worn off and that the fabric is not soiled, which dangerexists when the fabric is in sliding contact with the metal.

As is evident from the foregoing description, the parts of the needlebed according to the described embodiments can very easily be assembledand if necessary removed for replacement. Instead of using a pluralityof holding rails having each a row of teeth 5 provided for the fixationof the needle channels, only one such holding rail may be used, it wouldalso be possible to provide one or several rows of teeth directly at thebase plate 1, or the latter could be provided with one or several rowsof openings to take up one or several rows of teeth formed by tongues atthe set of needle channels 6.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms and modifications without departing from the spiritthereof, and it will be further understood that the needle bed accordingto the invention is equally suitable for both known manners of formingstitches.

What I claim is:

l. A needle bed for working needles serving for the manufacture ofknitted fabrics comprising a fiat base plate, oblong toothed holdingmeans situated on said base plate, profiled rails transversely arrangedon said holding means in tooth engaging relation therewith, said holdingmeans being adapted to determine the relative position of said profiledrails in transverse direction on said base plate and said profiled railsforming channels having walls of uniform thickness and serving to guidesaid working needles.

2. A needle bed for working needles serving for the manufacture ofknitted fabrics comprising a flat base plate, at least one holding railplaced on said case plate and having at least one row of upstandingteeth, profiled rails transversely arranged on said holding rail andbeing engaged by said upstanding teeth, upper rails positioned on saidprofiled rails and extending parallel with respect to said holding railand connecting means projecting tween said profiled rails and connectingsaid upper rails with said base plate.

3. A needle bed for working needles serving for the manufacture ofknitted fabrics, comprising a ilat base plate, at least one holding railplaced on said base plate and having at least one row of upstandingteeth, profiled rails transversely arranged on said holding rail andbeing engaged by said upstanding teeth, upper rails positioned on saidprofiled rails and extending parallel with respect to said holding rail,and filling strips arranged between said profiled rails and having upperand lower recessed portions, said lower recessed portions being adaptedfor engagement with said teeth of said holding rail, said profiled railshaving similar recessed portions at their upper sides, the upperrecessed portions at said filling strips and at said profiled railsbeing adapted for engagement with said upper rails.

4. A needle bed for working needles serving for the manufacture ofknitted fabrics, comprising a fiat base plate, at least one holding railplaced on said base plate and having at least one row of upstandingteeth, profiled rails transversely arranged on said holding rail andbeing engaged by said upstanding teeth, upper rails positioned on saidprofiled rails and extending parallel with respect to said holding rail,filling strips arranged between said profiled rails and having upper andlower recessed portions, said lower recessed portions being adapted forengagement with said teeth of said holding rail, said profiled railshaving similar recessed portions at their upper sides, the upperrecessed portions at said filling strips and at said profiled railsbeing adapted for engagement with said upper rails, connecting clampsarranged at said upper rails and having downwardly projecting shanks,and tensioning bars arranged below said base plate and being providedwith slots having enlarged end portions, said shanks being adapted toengage said slots and said onlarged end portions serving to allowinsertion of said shanks into said slots.

5. A needle bed for Working needles serving for the manufacture ofknitted fabrics comprising a fiat base plate, oblong tooth holding meanssituated on said base plate, profiled rails transversely arranged onsaid holding means in tooth engaging relation therewith, said holdingmeans being adapted to determine the relative position of said profiledrails in transverse direction on said base plate and said profiled railsforming channels having walls of uniform thickness and serving to guidesaid working needles, and a non-metallic end piece arranged at the frontend of the profiled rails on the base plate and connected with thelatter, said end piece being adapted to serve as elongation of saidneedle channels.

6. In a needle bed for working needles serving for the manufacture ofknitted fabrics, a base plate, a holding rail arranged on said baseplate and having a row of upstanding teeth, profilled rails seated onsaid holding rail and engaged by said teeth, an upper rail arranged oversaid profiled rails and extending in the same direction as said holdingrail, connecting means projecting between said profiled rails andsecuring said upper rail to said base plate and a non-metallic end piecepositioned in a lower portion of said base plate and being adapted toconstitute an elongation of said profiled rails.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,110,915 Nogler Mar. 15, 1938 2,284,167 Ralston May 26, 1942 FOREIGNPATENTS 20,700 Great Britain of 1894 436,127 Great Britain Oct. 4, 1935

